013 Straw Bale Gardening

Straw bale gardening is perhaps one of the simplest and most intuitive gardening methods I’ve come across. It is a great choice for small, backyard gardens. However, this gardening method is also bringing hope and food security to people all over the world.

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Joel Karsten

Twenty seven years ago, Joel Karsten, an entrepreneur with a BS in Horticultural Science from the University of MN, pioneered a unique method for growing vegetables in bales of straw. Now his method is being used by more than two million backyard gardeners around the world.  Joel has written four best-selling books on the subject, since translated into many languages, and has traveled extensively to spread his method world-wide. Straw Bale Gardening offers real hope for people in some of the poorest places on earth, to grow their own food in conditions where it has never been possible.

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Garden Wisdom

An observant child should be put in the way of things worth observing.

-Charlotte Mason

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Joel’s TEDx Presentation

When Joel Karsten invented the straw bale garden method, it transformed backyard hobby gardening for millions. But now, this simple, sustainable, revolutionary method is providing viable solutions to food security and malnutrition challenges around the world--even in conditions of drought, flood, and dense urban areas--with zero outside inputs or investments.

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